Integrated working

The Netherlands Youth Institute organised its third international expert meeting on Centres for Youth and Families on September 10, 2010. More than fifty Dutch participants and twelve international experts gathered to discuss the professionalization of all staff in and around these centres.

Aim

The aim of the expert meeting was to inspire Dutch policy makers and professionals through international examples from England, Flanders, Germany, Scotland and Sweden about leadership, multiagency and integrated working as well as empowering parents.

International examples

During the expert meeting, there were presentations about international examples, including:

• the accreditation of the Familienzentren in Nordrhein Westfalen;
• a professional network for children's centres leaders in England;
• a joint university degree for pedagogues and nurses in the 'familjecentraler' in Sweden.

Lessons learned

The key lessons learned from this expertmeeting include:

• managing family centres and realising integrated working requires several competencies, such as connecting and integrating different disciplines as well as overcoming barriers and professional competition.
• working in these centres demands certain competencies in dealing with parents, such as developing a vision on working with them, investing in meaningful relationships with them and recognizing them as experts and partners.
• the need to acknowledge that there may be a gap between the existing and required competencies of all the staff working in these centres.
• making family centres easily accessible requires creating plenty space and opportunities where parents and their children can informally meet each other
• the impact of these centres should be measured to get an idea of what works and to be assured of financial support from the national and local government.

More information

If you would like to receive the report about the workshops, or obtain more information about the expert meeting, please contact:
Ms Tijne Berg-le Clercq, e-mail: t.berg@nji.nl, tel. + 31 30 230 64 74,
or Ms Caroline Vink, e-mail c.vink@nji.nl , tel. + 31 30 230 64 08.